Fourth of July weekend weather: Rain and storms possible in Plains, Midwest, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic

The Fourth of July weekend may be filled with stormy weather for parts of the mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Midwest, which could impact your outdoor plans, including fireworks. Meanwhile, the heat will be the story for much of the West. In the Northeast, temperatures will be close to seasonal averages and conditions are expected to be mainly dry.

The overall weather pattern throughout the holiday weekend will feature a ridge of high pressure, or a bulge in the jet stream, over the West and a trough of low pressure, a southward dip in the jet stream, in the Northeast.

Saturday's Jet Stream Forecast

The result of this pattern is continued heat in the West, but it prevents any persistent heat in the East as frequent cold fronts will continue to move through. This will allow for comfortable temperatures and humidity levels in the Northeast for the holiday weekend.

One of the big concerns this holiday weekend is the threat for heavy rain from the central Plains into the central Appalachians. Heavy rain and flooding are possible along a boundary that will stretch across this region beginning Friday night. A widespread area of 1 to 3 inches is possible and some locations may receive more than 5 inches of rain.

Another area that will need to watch for wet conditions on Friday is the Northeast. If you plan to travel to your weekend destinations on Friday, be mindful that scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to impact parts of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic during the afternoon and evening. Some of the storms could reach severe limits, with damaging wind gusts and even hail.

A few highways that could potentially be impacted include: I-95 from Virginia to Connecticut; I-80 in New Jersey and Pennsylvania; I-76 in Pennsylvania; I-87 and I-90 from western New York into western Massachusetts.

Here's what you can expect for your holiday weekend plans:

Saturday

East Forecast for 4th of July Weekend

Overview

Wet areas: Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible from the central Rockies and central Plains into the mid-Mississippi Valley, as well as portions of the southern mid-Atlantic and Southeast. A few thunderstorms will also develop in parts of the Southwest and into the Inter-mountain West.

Dry areas: Much of the Northeast, southern Plains and West coast will enjoy dry conditions. Keep in mind, however, that the Northeast and parts of the southern Plains will be quite breezy, so you may need something to weigh down those table cloths on your picnic tables. The breeze also means that conditions on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario may not be ideal for boating, due to high waves.

High temperatures: Highs will be in the 80s and 90s in the East. However, parts of New England, the Great Lakes region and the Midwest will see temperatures hold in the 70s. Parts of the West will soar into the 90s and even 100s in the Desert Southwest. Coastal areas of the West will see highs mainly in the 70s.

Wet areas: Parts of the central Plains and mid-Mississippi Valley into the Southeast run the risk for scattered showers and thunderstorms, as will portions of the mid-Atlantic. A few isolated showers and thunderstorms may also develop in the northern Plains and Rockies.

Dry areas: Much of the Northeast, Upper Midwest and West will all enjoy sunshine and dry weather. While the Northeast will still be a touch breezy, winds will be calmer than Saturday. Gusty winds are also possible in portions of the Plains.

High temperatures: Highs will be in the 80s across a large swath of the country. Portions of the Midwest and central Plains will hold in the 70s, while 90s and 100s are likely across the South and much of the West. Coastal areas of the West will once again see highs in the 70s.

Wet areas: The Southeast, mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley and parts of the Midwest will see the threat for scattered showers and thunderstorms. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are also possible in portions of the Plains and Rockies.

Dry areas: The Northeast and much of the West will all enjoy sunshine and dry weather. Breezy conditions are possible, once again, in the Plains.

High temperatures: Highs mostly in the 80s are expected across the Northeast and Midwest, while the Southeast will reach the 90s. The Plains will see temperatures climb into the 80s and 90s, with a few 100s in Texas. Much of the West will be in the 90s, with 100s in the Desert Southwest, and along the coast and in the higher elevations high temperatures will be mainly in the 70s.